Cam-adjusting device for circular-knitting machines.



NO. 790,772. 7 PATENTBD MAY 23, 1905.

' P. B. WILDMAN. CAM ADJUsTING DEVICE FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1904 2 SHEETS-SHEET l No. 790312. PATENTED MAY 23. 1905.

' P. B. WILDMAN.

0AM ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNTTED STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT CAM-ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES- SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,772, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed May 20, 1904:. Serial No. 208,864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I, FRANK B. WVILDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Cam-Adjust an improvement in the means for controlling the adjustable knitting-cams which are intended to produce various kinds of knitting, such as plain rib, tuck courses, and welts'.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the invention applied to a machine of the type mentioned and which is representative of any type to which the attachment may be applied. Fig. 1 is a sectional detail view. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a machine with my improvement in place. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a brake device. Fig. i is a plan view of an adjustable arm. Fig. 5 is a side view of a part of said arm. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are plan views of other arms forming part of the connections.

Like the machine shown in Patent No. 613,346, the present machine is a two-feed machine. By reference to Fig. 4 of said patent above mentioned it will be seen that the movable needle-cams of the dial are adjusted by two sets of levers (6 b, one for each feed, each set being connected by a link with one of the needle-cams of the dial. The two sets of levers in that form of machine were arranged diametrically opposite each other, and said levers-were operated by means of a disk (marked in said patent S) of two diameters. In forming the tuck course at the beginning of the welt one lever of one set of levers was operated by the disk portion of small diameter to adjust the needle-cam half-way from its normal position, thus beginning the tuck course, and then when the machine had made a halfrevol ution (it being a two-feed machine) the opposite set of levers would be operated to throw the cam to which they are connected all the way'from its normal position at one movement in order to form the welt. This action, in which the tuck course at the beginning of the \velt is knit by the cam of one feed adjusted half-way and the second cam is adjusted all the Way at one operation, is liable to produce drop-stitches and give rise to other objections, owing to the sudden movement of the second cam for its full stroke. Further, the above manner of operatingthe cams of the two feeds produces an abrupt change in the character of the knitting, which is perceptible in the fabric. In my present machine I aim to avoid these objections, and for this purpose I operate the cams of both feeds simultaneously when the tuck course and welt are to be produced and both are operated step by step first half-way in from normal position, so that the needles will not advance their full stroke, and thus the tuck course will be produced with the two threads simultaneously feeding in at diametrically opposite points of the fabric, and then when the machine has completed one-half of a revolution the two cams will be again simultaneously moved, this time to their extremeinward position, so that the dial-needles will not advance, but will hold the fabric while the cylinder-needles proceed with the knitting of the plain fabric of the welt.

The style of machine which I have used to illustrate my invention is that in which the needle-cylinder and dial are fixed while the cams rotate.

In the drawings, 1 is the needle-cylinder; 2, the cam-carrier for the cams of the dial-needles. Connection is made to the cams of the dial-needles by the links 3 4, extending to diametrically-opposite points on the said dial, where slots 5 6 are provided in the cam-carrier, through which pins extend from the links to connect with the cams, (shown in dotted lines at 5 6, Fig. 2.) The position of the parts is that for plain rib-knitting. These links are operated simultaneously to adjust the cams as follows: The link 3 is connected by a screw 6 with an arm 7, fixed to the upper end of a shaft 8, which is journaled in the casing 9, rotating with the machine, the said shaft having at its lower end a gear or equivalent connection at lOwith a second shaft 11, which has an arm 12 fixed thereto and projecting from the casing to be operated by the portion 13 of the disk 13, so as to adjust the parts for ordinary rib-knitting. The movement of the shaft 8 will of course adjust one needle-cam directly through the arm 7 and link 3. Motion is communicated simultaneously to the other needle-cam through the arm 14, pinned to the shaft 8 at 15, said arm operating against a stud 16 on the arm 17 of a le ver 18, which isloosely journaled on the shaft 8, said lever 18 having another arm, 19, connected by a link 20 with an arm 21 of a lever the welt itself the operation is as follows: As-

will be seen from Fig. 2, the arms or levers 17 and 14 have their outer ends one overlyingthe other and in the same vertical plane, and they are so positioned on the shaft 8 in relation to the arm 12 that when said arm 12 is in its extreme inward position the arms 17 and 14 will be in their outermost position to be operated first by the small portion 13" of the disk 13 and then by the disk 13*. The disks are raised and lowered by pattern mechanism, as will be'hereinafter described, it being understood that said disks are supported on stems or posts 24, which pass through the stationary base-flange 25 of the machine. For making the tuck course at the beginning of the welt the disk 13 is adjusted by the pattern mechanism so that the small portion 13 will be in position to be struck by-both the arms 14 and 17, or rather by adepending stud 17 on the latter as the machine rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. The two arms will thus be moved part way inward, and through the described connections'the links will be simultaneously operated to move both needle-cams only part way in, so that they will project the needles sufiiciently to take the thread, but not to get the previously-formed loop behind the latch to cast off, thus forming tuck-stitches, and following this at the proper interval-71. a, at the end of a halfrevolution of the machinewill be the complete operation of the two arms inwardly by means of the disk 13, which has meanwhile been raised by the pattern mechanism into the plane of movement of the said arms. The

cams will thus be adjusted simultaneously to knit the welt course and at opposite points on the tube of fabric. It will be seen-that neither one of the cams is moved the fulldistance inwardly at one operation to form the welt courses; but, on the eontrary,each cam is given a step-by-step movement, first to form the tuck course and then the welt courses, and, fur-- ther, the changes in the knitting take place simultaneously at diametrically opposite points in the tubular fabric. The operation of the arms 14 and 17 in one direction will, through the gearing 10, operate the arm 12 in the opposite direction, as is disclosed in the patents above mentioned, and thus the arm 12 will be set out ready to be operated by the portion 13 of the disk 13 when the said disk is lowered by the pattern mechanism.

I apply a brake or friction device to the hub or sleeve 21 of the arm 21, so as to hold the' mg on its inner side a brake-pad 22", said plate being pressed against the surface of the hub by a screw 21, passing through the plate and through a slot in the hub into the post 22.

The arm 14 may be operated independently of the arm 17, so that only one of the needlecams will be set to produce tuck fabric. This is effected by the pattern mechanism raising the disk 13 so that the portion 13" only acts on the arm 14 and not on the arm 17. Adjustment of the arm 14 is provided for to take up wear by forming the said arm in sections, one, 14, being adjustable in a Way or groove of the other part, where it is fixed in the desired position by means of a screw and slot 28 29. An adjustment is also provided at 26 between the link 3 and the arm 7 for changing the time of the dial-needles in relation to the cylinder-needles, and other adjustments are provided at 23 and 27 for correctly positioning the parts in assembling.

The pattern mechanism is substantially the same as that described in the patent above referred to, No. 613,346, comprising a patternwheel (marked D in said patent) operating a lever S", which-in turn raises the stem of the disk. In my present form, wherein I employ two disks 13 and 13 arranged at diametrically opposite points on the machine, I operate the first disk 13, as just described, and the second disk 13 is operated by a lever 30, pivotally supported in a bracket 31, fixed to the base of the machine, said lever having an arm 32 to operate the stem 24 of the disk 13 and having another arm, 33, with a roller thereon operated by a pattern-wheel D, fixed on the same shaft with the pattern-wheel D. The returning-arm 12 answers for both arms 14 and 17.

In the above description I have referred to the arm 12 for returning the parts to normal or outward position, as operated by the disk 13 of large diameter. Instead of this way of operating the arm 12 I may operate it from the disk 13 which is lowered by the pattern mechanism for this purpose. This operates the arm at a different time and later in respect to the revolution of the machine than does the disk 13, and consequently more or less knitting or stitches may be added to or omitted from the welt, according as the said arm is operated by the disk 13 or the disk 13 I claim 1. In combination, in a multiple-feed circular-knitting machine, a plurality of needlecams located at different points about the machine, an operating connection for each cam, said connections leading to one point, means located at said point for operating both sets of connections simultaneously and adapted to allow one to be operated singly, and a device for operating thesaid means for the joint or single action of the connections, with pattern mechanism for operating the said device, substantially as described.

2. In combination, in a multiple-feed circular-knitting machine, a plurality of needlecams, connections leading from said cams, which cams are located at different points about the machine, said connections leading to one point, means located at said point for operating both sets of connections simultaneously and a plurality of devices disposed at different points about the machine for operating the said means successively for moving the plurality of cams step by step, and pattern mechanism for operating the said devices, substantially as described.

3. In combination, needle-cams, the shaft 8, connections between the said shaft and aplurality of said needle-cams for operating said cams simultaneously, means projecting from the said shaft for operating the same and the said connections simultaneously, a device for operating the said means and pattern mechanism for operating the said device, a second shaft 11 connected with the shaft 8 to rotate oppositely thereto, and an arm on the said shaft 11 for returning the. parts, substantially as described.

4. In a circular multiple-feed knitting-machine, a plurality of needle-cams, the combination of a plurality of arms for operating the plurality of needle-cams, means for operating the said arms simultaneously, pattern mechanism controlling the said means, and a returning-arm for the plurality of arms, said arm being also operated by the said means and being common to the plurality of arms, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, needle-cams, a pair of arms arranged at one point in relation to the circumference of the macnine, connections extending from said arms respectively to different points on the machine to operate the needle-cams, and

means for operating said arms simultaneously, substantially as described.

6. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, needle-cams, a pair of arms arranged at one point in relation to the circumference of the machine, connections extending from said arms respectively to different points on the machine to operate the needle-cams, and means for operating said arms simultaneously and step by step, substantially as described.

7. In combination,in a circular-knitting machine, needle-cams, a pair of arms arranged at one point in the circumference of the machine, connections leading therefrom respectively to the needle-cams located at different points on the machine, for operating the same simultaneously, devices located at different points on the machine for operating the said arms simultaneously and pattern mechanism controlling the said devices, substantially as described.

8. In combination,in a circular-knitting machine, needle-cams, a pair of arms arranged at one point in the circuit of the machine, connections leading from said arms respectively to different sidesof the machine to operate the needle-cams, one of said arms being capable of independent action, and means for operating both arms simultaneously, or only one, as the machine rotates, with pattern mechanism for operating the said means, substantially as described.

9. In combination, in a multiple-feed circular-knitting machine, needle-cams, a pair of arms arranged at one point in respect to the circumference of the machine, connections from said arms respectivelyto the needlecams located at different points about the ma- 7 chine, a returning-arm, a shaft carrying the same, asecond shaft carrying the pair of arms, means connecting the shafts to move one in a direction opposite to that of the other, means for operating the arms and pattern mechanism controlling the said means, substantially as described.

10. In combination in a multiple-feed machine, needle-cams, a pair of arms arranged at one point in respect to the circumference of the machine, a shaft carrying one of the arms rigidly, a connection leading from said shaft to the needle-cams for one feed, said shaft carrying the other arm loosely, connections leading from the loose arm to the other needlecam, a returning-arm 12, a connection between said arm and the shaft whereby said parts move in opposite directions, means whereby the rigid arm will move the loose arm in one direction, but will be free to move independently in the opposite direction, and means for moving the arms simultaneously and for moving the rigid arm independently,

' substantially as described.

ITO

for changing the character of: the'knitting, an arm for operating thesaidrconnections, a second arm with connections to the first for returning said: arm with its connections and needle-cams, and a pair of disks arranged at different points in the circuit of the machine for returning the said arm in normal position at either one point in the revolution of the machine or at another, substantially as described.

12. In combination in a two-feed circularknitting machine, knitting devices for each feed, connections to the knitting devices for changing the character of the knitting, arms with connections to the said knitting devices, a returning-arm for operating the arms first mentioned, and a pair of disks arranged at different points in the circuit of the machine for operating said returning-arm at either one point in the revolution of the machine or another, substantially as described.

13. In combination with the knitting devices and operating connections, a vertical shaft 8 for operating the said connections, an arm pinned thereto, and formed in two parts one adjustable on the other and a disk arranged to strike said adjustable part, substantially as described.

14:. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, a plurality of needle-cams located at difierent points about the machine, a connection for each cam, said connections leading to one point, apair of arms for operatingthe sets of connections simultaneously, asingle returning-arm having connection with the pair of arms, one ofthe pair together with its connections being capable of movement independent of the other, and pattern-controlled means operating the arms, substantially as described. s

In testimony whereof'I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. WILDMAN. Witnesses:

CARRIE LANDIs, SARAH TRAMP. 

